(Closed) What to expect at my second fitting?

I have my second fitting tomorrow night. My dress came in in April, and when I went to try it on it fit so well they went ahead and did the hem, the bustle, and planned to sew in cups (I took my shoes with me then, and I will tomorrow as well). So they scheduled only two more fittings, one tomorrow night, and then I’ll schedule one for about 2 weeks before the wedding.

I called yesterday to confirm my appointment, make sure my dress would be ready, etc. The woman on the phone said nothing would actually be stitched by tomorrow, but everything would be “basted”. Is this what everyone else has experienced? Is this normal? I just want to keep them accountable, because they’re kind of notorious for being sheisty.

@TwoStatesBride: I’m not 100% certain, but I think it would make sense that they would have everything pinned, rather than stitched, until your final fitting, to make sure your size doesn’t change at all. If they stitched it, and you gained or lost 10 pounds, they may have to take it apart and restitch it. This way they can make sure they are on the right track without comprimising the integrity of the gown with multiple sizings.

@FutureCuomo6610: that’s a good point. there isn’t any way i’m going to gain a significant amount of weight between now and the wedding, i was hoping to see it sewn now so i could make sure it looked ok! (the hem of my dress, for example, has a thin, delicate edging on the tulle i wanted to make sure she kept intact – i won’t be able to see that until they’ve sewn it…which sounds like is going to be RIGHT before the wedding. ugh)

i also wanted them to at least have the bustle done so the girls could learn how to do it, so that really sucks if its all still just going to be pinned. :/

@TwoStatesBride: For my second fitting, the dress was shortened, however the inside layers were unfinished. He’d brought in the sides, but had not finished the edge along the top. The bustle was done for me to look at.

We discussed the fit, and the length was perfect, but I wanted it brought in more on the sides. This is not unusual, which is why they don’t finish it for the second fitting (they’d just have to do it a second time)

Yesterday was my final fitting, and he had brought it in and all the seams and edges were finished. I’m having him sew on my sash, and today he’ll drop it off at the salon to be steamed.

@SeaSalt: i’m crossing my fingers they at least have the hem and bustle done. there wasn’t much to be done, honestly, and i’m annoyed that 4 months later she’s saying it may not be sewn. i wanted to practice walking in it to make sure the length was right and i wanted my girls to practice my bustle.

it didn’t have to be taken in on the sides or anywhere else, and i don’t care if the cups are just pinned in right now. her saying it ‘may not be sewn, just basted’ without going to check on it really annoyed me. now i’m stressed. ugh.

@TwoStatesBride: I wouldn’t stress too much. You have lots of time. My dress will be finished today, and I’m getting married on Saturday. It’s never a bad thing when the finishing touches are done the week before the wedding–you know that it will fit you perfectly.

I’m not sure the set up where your seamstress works, but there was pretty much no where for me to practice walking around in it. His shop is rather small.

@TwoStatesBride: I’ve been going once a month for fittings since April. I bought the sample dress and it was a size 12, and I am much smaller than a 12. I’ve now had 5 fittings and it still hasn’t been properly stitched and is just basted for now. Nothing to worry about 🙂

@SeaSalt: the bridal salon where i got my gown actually has an in-house seamstress, and there is plenty of room to walk around the salon, sit, etc.

@s2bmrscook: this word….”basted”….does that mean they left the pins in, or put stick em’s in, or what? i’m sewing illiterate. haha. i just don’t see the point of having the second fitting if they don’t do any actual work between 1 and 2…like, i’m going to put the dress back on, and its just going to be the exact same as it was at the end of fitting 1?

@TwoStatesBride: Basting is like quick, sloppy stitches. There arent any pins in the bodice of my dress, but my hem is still safety-pinned in place rather than being sewn on. I’m actually grateful that the hem isn’t finished because I’m still debating wearing flats! Lol

@s2bmrscook: quick sloppy stitches suits me just fine! i just want to see it without pins so i can make sure she’s done the border of the hem correctly, i can walk in it without it dragging, and so the girls can practice the bustle. the cups are whatever, they can be pinned, i don’t care about that. its the hem and bustle i’m most concerned about!

Interesting! I do wedding gown alterations (hence the name) and I’ve never presented an unfinished gown at the second fitting. In fact, I try to only have two fittings. Occasionally an adjustment will need to be made at the second fitting, but that’s rare. I guess different places do it differently. I don’t see the point of a first fitting, though, if you’re not going to actually do the work afterwards.

thought you all should know that they rescheduled my fitting from last thursday to tonight. she called and said because September is such a busy month, their alterations lady was behind, and they didn’t want to rush her to finish my dress (aka baste my dress). i allowed them to reschedule me to today, though they said it will be three simultaneous alterations appointments so i expect its going to be pretty chaotic 🙁

anyway. i asked for them to please at least have the bustle complete so my MOH could see how it works and practice doing it, and they said they would. she says everything else will just be basted, they will check that everything is looking good and then will do the official final sewing. i’ll have my final fitting in a couple weeks, and i’ll either take it home then or do some final tweaks.